Re-usable, collapsible containers



H. J. COHEN May 17, 1966 RE-USABLE, COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 20, 1964 IN VENTOR HAROLD J. COHEN ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,251,533 RE-USABLE, COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Harold J. Cohen, 14 Ellison Road, Newton Center, Mass. Filed Aug. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 390,907 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to a re-usable, collapsible container made of corrugated or similar material.

Although re-usable, collapsible containers have been proposed in the past, such containers as have been previously described have one or more disadvantages. Thus, a regular sloted carton requires the use of tape on the bottom by the ultimate user, with the result that it is difficult to collapse and re-use. Further, unless skilled labor is used in applying the tape to the bottom'of such a carton, the strength of the bottom may be inadequate. 7 Among the United States patents which purport to provide a collapsible, re-usable container are the following: Arkin, U.S. 2,761,609; Wilcox, U.S.' 3,003,680; Hardon, U.S. 3,039,670; Kindseth, U.S. 3,074,617; Nute, U.S. 3,119,547; Mairs, U.S. 3,123,276.

Arkin, describes a collapsible, re-usable container ,which, however, has insufiicient bottom support strength for normal carton use. In particular, the Arkin bottom panel has diagonal scoring and further has a longitudinal score which can be folded either inward or outward, with the result of weakening of the board. Wilcox, requires an expensive one-piece blank which includes the bottom member, and is complicated to assemble. It also has a relatively weak bottom panel because of diagonal scoring therein. Hardon describes a collapsible container, comcollapsible, re-usable container of improved over-all strength, particularly in the bottom panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a re-usable collapsible container which is both easy to manufacture and easy to use.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specifications and claims which follow, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the blank of the body portion of one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the body portion in assembled position.

FIG. 3 shows the assembled body portion inverted with the separate bottom panel in position for attachment.

FIG. 4 shows the assembled inverted box with the bottom panel attached.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the collapsed assembled container.

The re-usable collapsible contained of this invention comprises a body member having two end and two side panels with each of the end and side panels having a bottom foldable flange. A bottom member is attached to the inner folded surface of these bottom foldable flanges and has a longitudinal median score line. Each of the side and end panels is normally provided with a foldable top extension serving to form a cover, although the cover can also be provided by a single large extension from one of the side or end panels. The side panels, apart from the the bottom and top folds, have no other scoring. How- 3,251,533 Patented May 17, 1966 upper portions of the end panels will fold out flat and the lower portions of the end panels will fold in flat along the diagonal score lines. Although attachment of the various portions of the container can be done by various means, it is preferred that wire stitching be used for greater strengths. i

The blank from which the body member is formed comprises the panels with appropriate slots and scoring lines, with a single attaching flap. The blank of the bottom is simply a rectangular piece having a longitudinal score line.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the body member blank 10 comprises in longitudinal sequence joining flap 15, end panel 16, side panel 17, end panel 18, and side panel 19. These panels have respectively top flaps 11, 12, 13 and 14 of equal height which form the cover. These panels also have respectively bottom flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 which are used to engage the bottom panel 30.

Left end panel 16 is provided with a vertical median score line whose portions are designated A, B, C, and D. Portion A is on the upper folding flap while portion D is on the lower folding flange. The upper portion of the score on the end panel itself is designated as B while the lower portion is designated as C. Diagonal scores E and F run from the corners of the panel to the junction between B and C on the vertical score line. In a similar manner, end panel 18 is provided with a vertical median score line A prime, B prime, C prime, and D prime and diagonal score lines E prime and F prime.

In assembling the container, the blank illustrated in FIGURE 1 is folded so that the flap 15 overlaps a portion of panel 19 and is then stitched on with metal wire. The container is then inverted, and the flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 bent inward as illustrated in FIGURE 3 and the bottom blank piece 30 is then pushed up against these flaps and attached by wire stitching as shown in FIGURE 4.

The assembled and erected container can then be easily collapsed by simple inward pressure against either side panel 17 or 19. Similarly, by pushing panel 17 and 19 outward, or preferably by pressing inwardly on either or both end panels 16 and 18 the container readily assumes a rigid open shape. This container is not only sturdy and re-usable many times, but has sufficient strength for the handling of heavy weights, and can be used in a similar manner as any non-collapsible container.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described in detail, it will be understood that it will not be limited to the partcular construction set forth, since various changes in the form, proportions and arrangements of parts, and in the detail of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or destroying any of the advantages contained in the same, heretofore described and defined in the follow ing claims.

I claim:

1. A reusable, collapsible container comprising: a body member having two full end panels and two full side panels, each said panel having an inwardly folding flange along the bottom edge thereof and coextensive therewith; a bottom member permanently attached to the inner folded surface of said flanges and having a longitudinal median score line permitting only inward folding; each side panel remaining unfoldedieach end panel having a vertical'median score line and a diagonal score line running from each bottom corner to a common point'on the vertical score line, said score lines being adapted for inward The container is characterized in that pressure on Y one side will cause the bottom to fold in flat, while the folding along the diagonals and outward folding along the vertical line above the diagonals.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein a foldable upper extension is provided for at least one of said panels.

3. A pair of blanks for use in combination to form a re-usable, collapsible container; one of said blanks comprising an integral sheet having alternating side and end I panels with vertical score lines between such panels, an

end joining flap for securing a side panel to an end panel, foldable bottom flanges on each panel, and a vertical median score line and a pair of diagonal score lines running from the corners to a common point on the vertical score line on each end panel; and a bottom member having a longitudinal score line and adapted to be attached to said foldable flanges said bottom member being characterized inward folding along the diagonals and outward along the vertical line above the diagonals.

References Cited bv the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 933,955 9/1909 Brown 229-41 1,985,111 12/1934 Shofer et al 22927 2,761,609 9/1956 Arkin 2294l JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner. 

1. A REUSABLE, COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER COMPRISING: A BODY MEMBER HAVING TWO FULL END PLATES AND TWO FULL SIDE PANELS, EACH SAID PANEL HAVING AN INWARDLY FOLDING FLANGE ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGE THEREOF AND COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH; A BOTTOM MEMBER PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE INNER FOLDED SURFACE OF SAID FLANGES AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL MEDIAN SOURCE LINE PERMITTING ONLY INWARD FOLDING; EACH SIDE PANEL REMAINING UNFOLDED; EACH END PANEL HAVING A VERTICAL MEDIAN SCORE LINE AND A DIAGONAL SCORE LINE RUNNING FROM EACH BOTTOM CORNER TO A COMMON POINT OF THE VERTICAL SCORE LINE, SAID SCORE LINES BEING ADAPTED FOR INWARD FOLDING ALONG THE DIAGONALS AND OUTWARD FOLDING ALONG THE VERTICAL LINE ABOVE THE DIAGONALS. 